Cudo gets to come home in America

BunnyDog

BunnyDog

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https://youtu.be/HwZ6owV5eus

I FINALLY got to meet Cudo.

First impressions :

He's huge
Great brain
Totally confused by what's going on in his life
He's huge! Really.

We're in the last hour of our drive home now. The plan is to let him settle a couple hours and then very lightly ride him around the indoor to let him at stretch and settle back into a working routine.

I'm thrilled and exhausted. More images and such to come once we get home and can download them.

Emily
 
BunnyDog said:
https://youtu.be/HwZ6owV5eus

I FINALLY got to meet Cudo.

First impressions :

He's huge
Great brain
Totally confused by what's going on in his life
He's huge! Really.

We're in the last hour of our drive home now. The plan is to let him settle a couple hours and then very lightly ride him around the indoor to let him at stretch and settle back into a working routine.

I'm thrilled and exhausted. More images and such to come once we get home and can download them.

Emily
Click to expand...

I'm sure he's exhausted too, he's probably looking forward to a nice roll and some quiet time! Glad he arrived safely and hope you have lots of fun with him.
 
Oh yay! What a stunning boy he is. And yes, huge! :lol: He look quite wired and confused but holding it together. What a good boy. I hope he settles in lovely and is everything you want him to be. I'm still amazed he's travelled all that way. :lol:
 
What a superstar he is already - he's looked so calm and trusting all through his epic journey.

You must be totally thrilled. I wish you years of fun with him. x
 
So lovely to finally see you two together. As I said before, he has a gorgeous expression his face. Looks very genuine even if he is tired and confused!
 
[deleted user] said:
Can't wait to follow this story. PLEASE get someone to video his first ride! He has such a lovely face!
Click to expand...

Long story but first ride was in a mostly dark indoor for 15 mins. We're going to try to get video later this afternoon of his second ride. Still taking it a bit easy.



Em
 
Possibly I am being harsh on myself but I feel like I have some work to do. Now, he hasn't been turned out for 9 days and I think he does have some body soreness (that we're working on) so don't kill me. Here's a snippet of our second ride. First ride couldn't be captured due to riding in the dark.

https://youtu.be/FeJmOItbvyg


Em
 
Emily, if he was mine I'd give him a week off after that journey. I can completely understand why you want to ride your new horse, but he's been through such a stressful few days travel. He's going to be gorgeous, but right now he looks to me like he could do with a few days in a field. I'm sorry that's not what you are going to want to hear : (
 
He does look stiff particularly at the start of the video but what a lovely, genuine horse :) I’d say he’s worth every penny and every bit of worry he’s cost.

This will be such a useful ‘before’ video and I’m looking forward to seeing your progress with him.
 
He looks stiff to me too, albeit very sweet and willing.

I've brought horses from Spain to the UK three times and one back to Spain - the journey was 4-6 days (dependent on stops). Each time I gave them two full weeks off before getting on board, although it was torture as I was desperate to get going! In that time they had a full MOT including at least one chiro / physio treatment. They always had some tightness across their back and hindquarters from bracing on the lorry, even though it was a professional transporter with amazing suspension so as smooth a ride as they could have.

A friend sends a lot of horses to the UK and she's seen a lot of issues where horses were worked too soon. They are so willing that they will try to work through the stiffness but problems tend to show later. I know it's hard but a could of weeks of total chill time, ideally with turnout, would do Cudo the world of good right now!
 
Hi Emily! Great to see you have found yourself such a beautiful horse - and from the NE England as well which is where I live - I'm fairly close to Cudo's old home.

Btw, what kind of temperatures have you got over with you at the moment - its been down to -2oC overnight again up here in the NE, but suspect its a lot colder with you!

Also I think you mentioned that Cudo its currently liveried at Robert Dover's yard - is that a very big yard - are you able to hack out there - the indoor school looks lovely which is great if the weather its very cold!

Good luck and really look forward to following yours and Cudo's progress!
 
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I must admit I'd be giving him time off too. He's had a long journey and must be feeling it physically and mentally. I'd be giving him time to settle in and adjust to a different climate, different feed, different water, different routine - everything has changed for him and I'm sure taking it slowly now will result it a happier horse long term.
 
Ok I think I should explain a bit since we're probably not communicating well which is my fault.

Cudo did the following itinerary:
2/2 van ride from Sunderland to Devon. Roughly 6 hours total
2/2 pm - 2/5 mid morning he was stalled at the barn in Devon and put on the walker each day
2/5 Left Devon did ferry to Calais and drive to Amsterdam roughly 5 hours total
2/5 - 2/7 was stalled and put on the walker each day
2/7 flight to Us and drive to quarantine. Roughly 14 hours total
2/8 am -2/10 noonish he just stood in a stall. No walkers and no movement in the US quarantine.

2/10 We picked him up in bad weather and drove him home (3.5) hours.

The first ride was meant as a leg stretcher since it was too late and wet for turnout. It lasted maybe 10 minutes.

Yesterday they were not turning out due to the weather so he was able to be loose in the indoor for 20 mins in the am and I rode him in the afternoon to again try to give him a stretch. I rode a total of 20 mins. 10 of that was a walking hack outside. He'll get turnout today in a sand round pen as we need tonight's overnight freeze to help remedy the deluged fields. I've got a pulse/ massage therapist coming for him tomorrow afternoon and I know he'll get 3 days off after that. It's not hard not to ride him. I'm all about doing what's best for my horses, but a light ride is (in my mind) preferable to being stuck in a stall or just hand walking. Also I'm sick home today so he'll get today off.

That's what we actually did and why. :)

Emily
 
No need to justify yourself Emily; you have the horse in front of you, no one on here has any idea what the horse is feeling like. Sounds like he's doing very well, best of luck with him.
 
I'd have done what you've done Emily. A light ride and straight into a routine. Yeah he looks a little stiff, but to be expected I think. He looked far better by the end. And what a lovely horse to behave like that after all the change and travelling. He's going to be fab can't wait to follow this.
 
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